Wichita eagle., 1887-08-27
SYMBOLS OF FATE.
READING THE FUTURE IN THE GEO
METRIC LINES OF TEA GROUNDS.
Tho Teacup Oracle an inexpensive Form
Of Destiny, but Not So Social as Palm
Omens.

OF Destiny, but Not So Social as Palm
istry-where the Mystic Quality Lies.
+ Omens.
| 6One-two-three.n
@What does that meanp
@You must hold the teacup aloft and twirl
1t three times in order to bring the tea
grounds into fortune telling shape"
! 3Oh, it is a case of well shaken before
TAKEN is it2"
| ayes, a fortune that only covered the bot
tom of the teacup would be very uninterest-
| ing one"
"This," said the sibyl, describing circle in
the bottom of the cup, ais the course Of true
| love and it runs smooth; this triangle of black
specks is a wish. This black square is let
ter; this flock of birds means good news
Here are money and surprise"
HWhat is that thing in the side Of the cup?"
THAT Is an anchor of tea leaves; it is the
symbol of hope"
"Here is visitor in my cup" cries one.
@Bite it; if it is hard it is a man. If it Is
soft it is lady"
The long tea joint is fshed out and proves
to be soft, so the guest will be lady. The
gifted member of a company who can read
the teacups finds her hands full No guest is
so dignified that she does not evince some
curiosity as to her future. Sometimes the
| mildest hammered one finds gallows in the
mystical dregs.
When the leaves have no shape, but are
massed in a dark pyramid, it is dad for
tune" Occasionally the distinct shape of a
coffin can be traced. Then an enhancing
shudder runs through the entire group The
plot thickensi The interest deepens. The
tea leaves become important factors in the
happiness of a household.
THE GEOMETRIC LINES.
Experts in forecasting events find rare
things in the geometric lines of tea grounds,
and it has become the fashion at tea gather
ings to read aloud each cup in turn, some
ladies even declining to leave the table until
the cup is read. ~
1t is not as sociable social custom as palm
istry. A man who despises the tattling of a
tea cup has no aversion to having his hand
held by pretty girl while the lines are read.
But as men are not as q rule given to tea
drinking they will not grope after futurity in
the leaves
But the teacup oracle is a very harmless,
inexpensive form of destiny. Its present
popularity is doubtless owing to that secret
craving after the supernatural which marks
the age. 1t gives expression to an almost de.
spairlng wish to see into the coming tomor-
row.
And in response to this demand come the
soothsayers, astrologers, seers, clairvoyants,
seventh daughters of seventh daughters and
others who predict future events There are
secret sessions where the flower and chivalry
OF the best society attend, paying fee that
ranges from 81 to S8-just from curiosity,
you know.
What to learn?
The secrets of the past, present or future.
There is always some lucky hit-lucky for
the fortune teller.
The most of people who have lived to any
age have friends coming from a distance.
Many have relatives who die and leave them
fortunes. Young people are usually in love
with some one of the opposite sex who is either
dark or fair, and journey is imminent in
nearly all conditions. Crossing the water
may mean going over ferry or a running
brook, as well as an ocean.
THE MYSTIC QUALITY.
But the mystic quality lies in the fact that
that the person telling all these things Is an
announced seer-born with caul, like David
Copperf1eld, and having intimate relations
with the world of futurity and the powers of
mystery.
No matter how ignorant of the civilizing
Influences of this life the inspired fortune
teller may be, how cheaply gotten up, or with
what sordid circumstances environed, pro-
fessors of all the sciences are willing to kneel
at her feet to learn the secrets of the past, |
present and future from her occult knowl- |
edge
A new mythology would be a boon to
society in its present condition, when every
body is looking for sign.
The Growing of the cock was an omen Of
Ill to Peter. 1t heralds visitor in these days
as we'll as a change in the weather.
If you drop the scissors, fork or q pen,
and the point sticks in the floor, somebody is
coming.
If your nose itches you are going to kiss a
fool
If your left hand tickles you will handle
sum of money.
If the right hand, you will shake hands
with friend.
If you first see visitor in the looking glass
it is sign of misfortune
Two spoons signify wedding; teaspoons
are understood.
But these signs of necromancy are as old as
the doings of Macbeth's witches, whose weird
lamentations are practiced to this day. In
deed, Shakespeare fortune telling book
would not be n bad enterprise. 1t would give
q higher tone to the soothsayer's art. 1t
might be called Easy Lessons in the Hora-
ton Philosophy" and serve as a textbook in
supernatural lore, with a motto by the second
witch:
by the pricking of my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes"
Detroit Free Press